title: Infection with HIV is associated with elevated IL-6 levels and production.
abstract: Polyclonal B cell activation is commonly observed in AIDS and in infection with HIV. Because IL-6 (B cell stimulatory factor 2) plays an essential role in the differentiation of activated B cells to Ig-secreting cells, and because IL-6 production is induced by exposure of human PBMC to HIV, we measured the level of circulating plasma IL-6, spontaneously-produced IL-6, and IL-6 mRNA in HIV-infected donors and in healthy control donors. Elevated levels of plasma IL-6 and IL-6 mRNA were detected in HIV-infected donors. PBMC isolated from the peripheral circulation of HIV-infected donors, and cultured without added exogenous activators of IL-6 production, produced markedly elevated amounts of IL-6 when compared with cells isolated from healthy donors. Interestingly, levels of an acute-phase protein, which is known to be induced by IL-6, was also increased in HIV-infected donors. These results demonstrate that elevated levels of IL-6 are associated with HIV-infection, and suggest that IL-6 over-production may contribute to the polyclonal B cell activation seen in AIDS and HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, UCLA School of Medicine.
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Breen
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Rezai
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Beall
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Mitsuyasu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hirano
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Martinez-Maza
mesh_terms: D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002097:C-Reactive Protein